Little Foot Launcher

The Little Foot PLUS Launcher started shipping on May 3, 2011. It's a great launcher.

See instructions on how to set up and use a Little Foot PLUS Water Rocket Launcher.

The Little Foot PLUS has all the features of the Original Little Foot Launcher and incorporates the following attributes that make it the paramount water rocket launcher in the market. It's about preciseness, control, and ease of use.

PRECISE control of the comparison between multiple rockets and compeditors.
EXACT control of water fill level point.
ACCURATE control of air pressure level point.
No prior filling of water inside rocket necessary before mounting on launcher.
Lowering water and air levels are as easy as turning a valve handle.
Filling with water is as easy as turning a valve handle.

Purpose of Original Little Foot Launcher was to offer to following features:

SAFE to use
STRAIGHT TRAJECTORY of Water Rocket !!!!!!
air connection is conventional Shrader tire valve, fits all standard air pumps and compressors.
12 foot long pull string.
smaller and lighter weight launcher (compared to the heavy duty plywood & steel Bigfoot Launcher)
economical price
reliable and long lasting
color coded parts for easy identification for assembly.
more portable (could fit in a briefcase for travel and storage)
holds up to 100 psi pressure without leaking.
gave maximum thrust for blast off.
achieves 500 + foot apogees with 2 liter bottles
fits any common sized soft drink bottle up to 2 liters
launches from straight up vertical to 45 degree angles
self powered trigger - powered by rubber bands (almost any size will work).
stable on the ground (won't tip over)
provided practice in preparation for Science Olympiad
higher-quality and performance than "official" launcher used by Science Olympiad.
had a pressure gauge on the launcher from 0 - 100 psi.
could be used on hard or soft ground surfaces.
worked with parachutes systems
allowed for low profile fin assembles that were far below bottle neck of "booster"
allowed for lowering the water level, while under pressure if water was over filled
allowed for aborting the launch, and de-pressuring without launching.

Component parts are mostly modified PVC, nylon, aluminum, steel, and rubber. Special tooling was required to make, or modify, components to precise tolerances.

To prepare for a launch:

Slide rocket over 11 inch long "internal launch tube", and finally over 2 each pressure sealing "O" rings.
Raise sliding PVC tube up 2 inch, which locks grip on rocket bottle.
Insert aluminum trigger pin in hole provided, which locks sliding PVC tube.
Turn on water valve handle and fill to water line on rocket bottle.
Pressurize rocket bottle with air to desired pressure, using pressure gauge to monitor level.
You are now ready to launch.

To Launch - A count down is advisable when others are observing, and then pull trigger string. There will be a loud blasting sound, and a spray of water as the rocket immediately travels at 125 mph into the sky.

What happened at launch - You used a string to pull an aluminum pin out of a drilled hole in the outer telescoping tube, a rubber band provides the power to drop an internal telescoping tube that releases the grip on the rocket bottle. The pressure in the rocket bottle forces the bottle over the 2 each "O" rings and the 11 inchs of the internal launch tube act as a piston to propet the rocket into a straight trajectory.

Another interesting feature is that this launcher can launch rockets straight vertical, or you can mix up the positions of the legs to shoot are various angles. I also designed it so you can use either of the 1/2" internal launch tubes as a replacement leg to shoot at steeper (up to about 45 degree) angle!

All the parts thread together easily. O Rings and grooved recipocating PVC components provide positive seal when connecting Little Foot PLUS Trigger to the Little Foot PLUS Tripod Leg Assembly Base.

Double O Rings seal Water Rockets on the Trigger.

Some photos below to illustrate a few things.

Close up views of trigger and launcher, showing pressure gauge.
A perfect 45 degree angle for launching. This is a great angle for long distance.
Shows 4 Little Foot Launchers nested close together to show that you could launch multible rockets at the same exact time for competition and comparison of rocket performance.
A view of the parts layed out.
Entire launcher fits in a standard brief case for travel. Probably could fit 3 or 4 launcher in one brief case!
Extra fins included. Just glue them on with a flexible urethane roofing/gutter adhesive, like "P L Premium" adhesive from your local hardware store.
The rubber tips for hard ground and the metal stakes that work GREAT in turf or soil.

Little Foot "Plus" Rocket Launcher

Little Foot "Plus" Rocket Launcher and Goldenrod 140 Air Pump

Photo below shows normal Little Foot, photos will be updated as soon as available this week. This "PLUS" model requires both a "Hose Y with Shut off" and "Hose Shut off Coupling". I've decided to provide a both hose connector parts in brass and include as a total complete package.

Modified Goldenrod 140 AIR PUMP. `Learn more at GOLDENROD 140 Air Pump web page. READ a good review about this pump on Amazon.com [click here]`

Little Foot PLUS Water Rocket Launcher System - Designed, prototyped, and tested in April 2011 - It performs much better than anticipated! This is an advancement of the Original 2006 Little Foot Launcher.
The Little Foot PLUS Launcher started shipping on May 3, 2011. It's a great launcher. See instructions on how to set up and use a Little Foot PLUS Water Rocket Launcher. The Little Foot PLUS has all the features of the Original Little Foot Launcher and incorporates the following attributes that make it the paramount water rocket launcher in the market. It's about preciseness, control, and ease of use. PRECISE control of the comparison between multiple rockets and compeditors. EXACT control of water fill level point. ACCURATE control of air pressure level point. No prior filling of water inside rocket necessary before mounting on launcher. Lowering water and air levels are as easy as turning a valve handle. Filling with water is as easy as turning a valve handle. Purpose of Original Little Foot Launcher was to offer to following features: SAFE to use STRAIGHT TRAJECTORY of Water Rocket !!!!!! air connection is conventional Shrader tire valve, fits all standard air pumps and compressors. 12 foot long pull string. smaller and lighter weight launcher (compared to the heavy duty plywood & steel Bigfoot Launcher) economical price reliable and long lasting color coded parts for easy identification for assembly. more portable (could fit in a briefcase for travel and storage) holds up to 100 psi pressure without leaking. gave maximum thrust for blast off. achieves 500 + foot apogees with 2 liter bottles fits any common sized soft drink bottle up to 2 liters launches from straight up vertical to 45 degree angles self powered trigger - powered by rubber bands (almost any size will work). stable on the ground (won't tip over) provided practice in preparation for Science Olympiad higher-quality and performance than "official" launcher used by Science Olympiad. had a pressure gauge on the launcher from 0 - 100 psi. could be used on hard or soft ground surfaces. worked with parachutes systems allowed for low profile fin assembles that were far below bottle neck of "booster" allowed for lowering the water level, while under pressure if water was over filled allowed for aborting the launch, and de-pressuring without launching. Component parts are mostly modified PVC, nylon, aluminum, steel, and rubber. Special tooling was required to make, or modify, components to precise tolerances. To prepare for a launch: Slide rocket over 11 inch long "internal launch tube", and finally over 2 each pressure sealing "O" rings. Raise sliding PVC tube up 2 inch, which locks grip on rocket bottle. Insert aluminum trigger pin in hole provided, which locks sliding PVC tube. Turn on water valve handle and fill to water line on rocket bottle. Pressurize rocket bottle with air to desired pressure, using pressure gauge to monitor level. You are now ready to launch. To Launch - A count down is advisable when others are observing, and then pull trigger string. There will be a loud blasting sound, and a spray of water as the rocket immediately travels at 125 mph into the sky. What happened at launch - You used a string to pull an aluminum pin out of a drilled hole in the outer telescoping tube, a rubber band provides the power to drop an internal telescoping tube that releases the grip on the rocket bottle. The pressure in the rocket bottle forces the bottle over the 2 each "O" rings and the 11 inchs of the internal launch tube act as a piston to propet the rocket into a straight trajectory. Another interesting feature is that this launcher can launch rockets straight vertical, or you can mix up the positions of the legs to shoot are various angles. I also designed it so you can use either of the 1/2" internal launch tubes as a replacement leg to shoot at steeper (up to about 45 degree) angle! All the parts thread together easily. O Rings and grooved recipocating PVC components provide positive seal when connecting Little Foot PLUS Trigger to the Little Foot PLUS Tripod Leg Assembly Base. Double O Rings seal Water Rockets on the Trigger. Some photos below to illustrate a few things. Close up views of trigger and launcher, showing pressure gauge. A perfect 45 degree angle for launching. This is a great angle for long distance. Shows 4 Little Foot Launchers nested close together to show that you could launch multible rockets at the same exact time for competition and comparison of rocket performance. A view of the parts layed out. Entire launcher fits in a standard brief case for travel. Probably could fit 3 or 4 launcher in one brief case! Extra fins included. Just glue them on with a flexible urethane roofing/gutter adhesive, like "P L Premium" adhesive from your local hardware store. The rubber tips for hard ground and the metal stakes that work GREAT in turf or soil.

Little Foot "Plus" Rocket Launcher

Little Foot "Plus" Rocket Launcher and Goldenrod 140 Air Pump

Photo below shows normal Little Foot, photos will be updated as soon as available this week. This "PLUS" model requires both a "Hose Y with Shut off" and "Hose Shut off Coupling". I've decided to provide a both hose connector parts in brass and include as a total complete package.

Modified Goldenrod 140 AIR PUMP. Learn more at GOLDENROD 140 Air Pump web page. READ a good review about this pump on Amazon.com [click here]

Modified Goldenrod 140 AIR PUMP. `Learn more at GOLDENROD 140 Air Pump web page. READ a good review about this pump on Amazon.com [click here]`